Perhaps the question should be “Why doesn’t society not trust vulnerable people?” The answer is “stigma”, whether it is called stereotype, bias, or assumption the effects unfairly categorize people all the same.
Stigma – According to Webster’s dictionary, “stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against a person based on perceivable social characteristics that serves to distinguish them from other members of a society.”
On occasion, we are the victim of it.
Other times we perpetuate it.
Stigma, stereotypes, bias, and assumptions can all result from the best of intentions as easily as they can from ignorance. People may want to impose their concept of “what is right” or to help someone to “avoid making a mistake.” Stigma is especially prevalent for people who suffer from poverty or are from marginalized communities.
The first step in overcoming “stigma” is to acknowledge it exists, to realize that we have allowed ourselves to be conditioned unconsciously to accept each stigma as a reality. By becoming more aware of its existence then we can start to realize the consequences and use this knowledge to remove the barriers created by stigma.
In Canada, the barrier of “food security stigma” is only now starting to attract the attention that it deserves as people become aware of the size and scope of the number of our friends and neighbours that are victims of stigma.
IN CANADA ONLY 1 IN 4 PEOPLE WHO SHOULD USE A FOOD BANK ACTUALLY DOES AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS IS STIGMA
Consider these very common examples of bias, assumptions, stereotyping, and stigma
Public Shaming:
A food insecure person feeling anxious and embarrassed having to stand in line outside of a food bank in full view of their friends and neighbours.
A senior who prevented his wife from going to a food organization because all of his friends and neighbours would know that he had failed as a provider.
Fear of Bureaucratic Processes:
A parent worrying about what kind of questions will be asked during there “intake” discussion. Afraid that if they answer the questions incorrectly then their children will go hungry.
Dismissiveness of the importance of dignity:
Anyone commenting that the assistance offered by food organizations is a “hand out” rather than a “hand-up.”
A food insecure person being told by a store clerk, when they are buying dog food with a voucher that, “If they are poor, they shouldn’t have a dog.
The conviction that, “Businesses can’t afford to pay a living wage,” without acknowledging the social and economic benefits of allowing people to earn enough money to have a basic standard of living.
The belief that it is an acceptable practice to donate “expired” food products to people with the attitude that food insecure people “should be grateful to get what is being offered.”
Ignorance of different realities:
A person in leadership stating, “We don’t have any homeless people in our community.” This dedicated, middle class, retired volunteer, with the best of intentions is completely wrong. They do not see vulnerable people in their neighbourhood so they must not exist.
The argument that food bank users “don’t know how to use fresh fruit or vegetables” and they prefer canned products, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
People not understanding the size and scope of food insecurity in their region. For example, believing that by donating some non-perishable items, people are solving the food insecurity issue. Everyone needs to realize food insecurity is a symptom of poverty and the lack of affordable and safe housing. Many members of the public are shocked to find food insecure people are spending upwards of 80 to 100% of their income on housing, forcing them to choose between eating and having a home.
A volunteer observing that certain people come back every time they can, failing to realize the volunteers are the only people they have to interact with.
Low Income people just need to try harder or are just lazy:
A political message saying, “People just need to get a job, they need to pull themselves up by their “bootstraps”. By grouping poor and food insecure people, under one generic label and they assume a job will solve all of their issues without appreciating any of the circumstances or invisible disabilities that vulnerable person encounter.
Voting against “guaranteed personal income or living wages” because of the belief that it is an “incentive for low-income people not to work” or because it makes it easier for people to “get a free-ride.”
Low Income people cannot be trusted:
The mistaken belief that food organizations have a duty to donors to prevent fraud by policing “food bank shopping.” People are going to multiple organizations because many food banks only give out 3 or 4 days worth of food at a time, which forces hungry people to source more than one food bank.
Leadership not supporting a policy that provides food insecure people with a gift card instead of food. The gift card would give the person the dignity of choosing what food they want to buy for themselves. Some believe that vulnerable people cannot be trusted to make “good” decisions.”
An intake volunteer asking a parent for proof of id’s for their children at home. The volunteer insists that the parent either provides physical proof or must bring the children in order to get food. The volunteer does not even consider the psychological trauma for the children.
The belief that gift cards are not appropriate donations for Christmas Toy Drives because parents might not spend the money appropriately.
Low Income people cannot prioritize or budget:
A volunteer commenting loud enough for a client to hear, “that person has an I-Phone, if they have enough money for that, they don’t deserve a handout?” The volunteer does not know the phone may be a refurbished model or that many government programs are only accessible if the person has a smart phone.
An outreach volunteer complaining that people just need to budget their lifestyle choices better without realizing housing takes almost 100% of their available income.
Fear of new ideas and losing control:
The unwillingness of some organizations to recruit new, more diverse volunteers because “new people always want to change things.”
Believing that other people deserve to be helped more:
Some vulnerable people who believe other people deserve help more than they do. For example, an elderly person who was eating cat food because they believed there were other people who were worse off than she was.
These types of comments and situations have happened and continue to happen because as a society, many of us are unaware of the multitude of circumstances that vulnerable people face. As a community, we need to try to be aware that these stigmas exist and are very common.
From awareness then we can begin to understand and appreciate the situation that vulnerable people face every day. From there, we can listen to them and work together to remove these barriers to build solutions.
Food insecure and vulnerable people deserve the same dignity, respect, and trust that most of us take for granted.